Dachshund, schipperke among breeds to advance to final at Westminster Dog Show

"Walmar-Solo's OMG" a longhaired Dachshund won first in the Hound Group at the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A longhaired dachshund, a Havanese, a schipperke and a bouvier des Flandres triumphed at Monday's group competitions at the 143nd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in the lead-up to the big day - competition for Best in Show.

Almost 3,000 high-pedigree dogs were groomed for victory this year in the most prestigious title in the rarefied world of dog breeding.

"Rivendel's Barefoot Bandit", a Schipperke who won the Non-Sporting Group runs with his handler at the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

The two-day event at Madison Square Garden drew challengers from all 50 U.S. states and 14 other countries, including Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Canada and Japan.

Dogs are divided into seven groups: hounds, toys, non-sporting, herding, working, sporting and terrier. The dogs that emerge victorious from each of the groups then vie for the Best in Show trophy on Tuesday.

Burns, a longhaired dachshund, won the hound group on Monday.

"Quiche's Major League", a Bouvier des Flandres who won the Herding Group runs with his handler during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

His handler, Carlos Puig, showed the dog's great-grandfather 21 years ago, who was the first and only long-haired dachshund to win the group in 1998.

Judge Patricia Craige Trotter, asked what she liked about the hounds group winner, said: "What's not to like?"

Puig said Burns will retire after tomorrow's challenge and that winning the group was "the icing on the cake."

A judge examines "Oeste's In The Name Of Love", a Havanese who won the Toy Group at the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

Burns, one of this and last year’s biggest crowd-pleasers, will spend his days in retirement doing therapy work with his owner in Louisiana.

A schipperke named Colton scored another surprise win in the non-sporting group, beating long-time favorites such as the common poodle and the bichon frise.

Six-year-old Colton dazzled the crowd with his thick coat of black hair and cheeky grin.

"Walmar-Solo's OMG" a longhaired Dachshund won first in the Hound Group at the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

"It’s his favorite thing in the world, showing," said Christa Cook, who showed him in the Madison Square Garden ring. "He just turns it on and all I have to do is walk him around."

Asked how they would celebrate, Cook said emphatically: "We’ll sleep!"

Bono, a Havanese, and Baby Lars, a bouvier des Flandres, won the toy and herding contests, respectively.

"Quiche's Major League", a Bouvier des Flandres who won the Herding Group runs with his handler during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

Dogs from the sporting, working and terrier groups will compete on Tuesday night, with the three winners joining Monday's finalists in the competition for top prize.

Flynn, a fluffy bichon frise from Michigan, took home the Best in Show trophy at last year's competition.

The Westminster Kennel Club's contest is the second-oldest U.S. sporting event, behind only the Kentucky Derby horse race.

A judge examines "Rivendel's Barefoot Bandit", a Schipperke who won the Non-Sporting Group at the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

(Reporting by Maria Caspani in New York; Additional writing by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Barbara Goldberg, Sandra Maler and Paul Tait)

Handlers hold their dogs during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Pip, a YorkshireTerrier breed, sits during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Tracer, a Beagle breed, sits during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Donald, a Bichon Frise breed, is groomed during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Couvee, an Keeshond breed, is groomed during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Connor, a Yorkshire Terrier breed, sits during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

The Bulldog breed is judged during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Oona, a Boston Terrier breed, stands during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Junior, an Old English Sheepdog breed, sits during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Bro, a Rhodesian Ridgeback breed, lays down next to a ribbon during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Anwar Ebn Benazir Von Haussman, an Afghan Hound breed, sits during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

A Toy Fox Terrier breed stands during judging at the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

A dog lays in its cage during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

A handler runs with a Miniature Australian Shepherd breed, during judging of the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

A Bergamasco Shepherd breed is judged during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Yorkshire Terrier breeds have their pictures taken during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

A Bergamasco Shepherd breed is seen on a video monitor being judged during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Blue, an Old English Sheepdog breed, is groomed during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Questa, a Tibetan Terrier breed, sits during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Don Smith reacts as Cap'n Crunch the Great Dane yawns during the Meet the Breeds event ahead of the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 9, 2019. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

A Standard Poodle breed lays down next to a ribbon during the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, U.S., February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton